These MD Vacation Spots Offer Luxury On A Budget, New Ranking Says

Marylanders who want a luxury vacation without the sticker shock can find affordable escapes without traveling too far from home, according to a new ranking.

The financial media company MarketBeat lists two Maryland vacation spots in its ranking of the top 120 “bougie-on-a-budget” travel destinations.

Here are Maryland destinations, their rankings nationally, and what they offer:

No. 70: Rock Hall

Dubbed the “Pearl of the Chesapeake,” Rock Hall is a waterfront town located right on the Chesapeake Bay in Kent County.

According to the Maryland Office of Tourism, Rock Hall is a treasured stop for tourists with amazing seafood, museums, shops and more. Travelers can get to know those who work on the Chesapeake Bay at the Rock Hall Waterman’s Museum, or set out for a day of pampering on the luxury sailing yacht Shardana. Learn to sail at the Delmarva Sailing School, or go kayaking at the Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge.

No. 115: Berlin

Located in Worcester County on the Eastern Shore, Berlin offers travelers small-town charm and big-city elegance, all just minutes from the Atlantic Ocean.

According to the Maryland Office of Tourism, Smithsonian named Berlin one of the 20 Best Small Towns to Visit, and Budget Travel crowned Berlin the Coolest Small Town in America. Visitors can check out what’s happening on Berlin’s funky, thriving Main Street and possibly take in a show at the Globe Restaurant & Bar. Berlin is also close to Assateague Island for those interested in beach fun and nature exploration.

What the 120 destinations have in common is that “they feel luxurious, but remain under-the-radar — and under budget,” MarketBeat said.

Nationally, the top 10 affordable luxury vacation destinations and MarketBeat’s observations are:

1. Twin Lakes, Colorado: Rich with outdoorsy experience, “the luxury is the view.”
2. Kaunakakai, Hawaii: With “million dollar views,” Kaunakakai offers a “stripped-down, soulful Hawaii experience.”
3. Cold Spring, New York: An hour outside of New York City, the Hudson Valley village is “full of antique shops, art galleries and stylish cafés — all nestled between leafy mountains and the water’s edge.”
4. Mount Dora, Florida: Mount Dora, which is set on a chain of lakes in central Florida, “serves up small-town charm with upscale flourishes.”
5. Cape May Point, New Jersey: Absent the bustle of Cape May proper, the Point is “quieter, wilder, and full of dunes, shorebirds, and Victorian rentals tucked into quiet streets.”
6. Saranac Lake, New York: West of Lake Placid, the lake “offers Adirondack charm without Olympic crowds or prices. … It’s pure lake-life calm.”
7. Grand Rivers, Kentucky: “Tucked between two massive lakes (Lake Barkley and Lake Kentucky), this boating town has the relaxed elegance of a coastal getaway.”
8. Paris, Kentucky: The town has an Eiffel Tower replica, “but the real draw is nearby Kentucky Lake, where you can rent a stylish cabin, sip something cold by the water, and enjoy a calm, upscale-feeling summer escape that still flies under the radar.”
9. Dauphin Island, Florida: The coastal charm here is “less about crowds and more about barefoot walks, bird sanctuaries, and beachfront cottages that still come at off-the-radar prices.”
10. Los Alamos, California: The one-road town in Santa Barbara wine country “feels like Napa’s bohemian cousin.” Amenities include boutique inns “that haven’t caught on price-wise.”

MarketBeat’s ranking is based on a July panel survey of 3,011 professionals in the travel industry based on age, gender, and geography.

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